United Club

Inaugurated in May 2022, the United Club at New York/Newark, NJ airport marks the dawn of a new era for United’s domestic United Club product, and a dramatic upgrade for New York City-based United customers.

The widely anticipated lounge, which was built from scratch, at great expense, on a new mezzanine-level area near gate C123, welcomes United Club members, MileagePlus Premier Gold customers departing on international flights, and Star Alliance Gold members. International business class passengers are naturally welcome to visit the United Club, although they’ll likely want to use the more exclusive United Polaris Lounge near gate C120.

The United Club near gate C123 is located near United’s international gates. Domestic passengers will find another excellent United Club by gate C74, though the C123 lounge has superior amenities and may be worth a detour.

All United Clubs at Newark airport feature automated, subway-style entry gates. The system supports guest entry, but it is particularly slow. Scan your boarding pass and wait a moment. Eventually, you’ll be prompted to enter the number of guests joining you, if applicable. Just tap the appropriate option and the gate will swing open.

United Club EWR design

Step inside the United Club at Newark airport near gate C123 and you might wonder if you’ve made a wrong turn. The new flagship club is unlike any other United Club location in the US. Gone is the cookie-cutter, monochrome, and utilitarian décor that’s been the hallmark of United’s membership lounges for a decade. With the new United Club EWR, United has taken a completely new design direction and embraced a more residential décor with local touches.

While airline lounges are often designed to cram in as many customers as possible, the United Club Newark stands as an exception. Spreading across an impressive 30,000 square feet, the club is one of the United’s largest lounges worldwide, giving the designers an opportunity to invent a bespoke, inspiring, and uplifting space.

The library, which is located behind the lobby, exemplifies this approach to design. A place to unwind and a transition between the chaotic terminal and the elegant confines of the club, the library boasts homely furniture, travel books and memorabilia, and eye-catching artifacts evoking United’s global network and destinations. The library also incorporates smart workspaces, including highly-private recessed cubicles and a large communal table.

The décor of the library draws inspiration from the United Polaris Lounges at San Francisco and Washington Dulles airports. Indeed, the United Club Newark incorporates elements of the DNA of the airline’s acclaimed business class-only lounges: among other aspects of the design, United’s premium flyers might recognize the typeface of the signs and the color scheme.

Adjacent to the library is a hydration station with infused water and a touchless water dispenser for personal bottles, a simple but smart amenity that United is rolling out across all lounges.

From the library, guests may choose to veer left towards a cozy, quiet area with booths, or make a right towards the dramatic window wall. We might suggest a quick walk along the window: on clear days, the United Club boasts superb vistas of New York City’s Manhattan skyline. The views aren’t too shabby either on New York’s dreary rainy days; the club overlooks the tarmac and offers some of the best plane spotting opportunities at Newark airport.

Settle in a recliner with an ottoman by the window to soak in the view or walk around the club to find a seating area that fits your mood. The United Club by gate C123 offers an impressive range of seating options for all types of travelers. Families will enjoy the living room-inspired spaces featuring plush couches and playful colorful stools, while solo travelers will find traditional solo seats with side consoles, highly private cube chairs, and cozy booths. The lounge also has several well-appointed dining and workspaces, including convivial communal tables and secluded booths. All seats have power outlets and USB ports at arm’s length.

While that’s probably unintentional, some of the furniture styles and arrangements seem to come straight out of the Lufthansa playbook. (Lufthansa is a fellow Star Alliance member and a close partner of United.) In particular, the birch-and-white consoles and orange recliners would be right at home at a Lufthansa lounge at Frankfurt or Munich airports.

While the floor plan is mostly open, allowing daylight to flow through the expansive space, the designers have carved out many convivial areas with their own distinct character. The dining area features (somewhat realistic) exposed brick walls and brass lamps in a nod to New York City, while the living room spaces boast bookcases with art pieces and intriguing artifacts.

Speaking of artwork, the NYC subway-style “Newark Liberty Intl Airport” mosaic behind the buffet is not to be missed. The lounge also celebrates the vibrant New York City art scene with two murals by local artists Gilbert Hsiao and Dahlia Elsayed, on display in collaboration with The Newark Museum of Art and Gallery Aferro.

Overall, color us impressed. The United Club at Newark airport near gate C123 is one of United’s best-designed lounges, and a pleasant space to work, relax, or socialize. The creative layout and furniture arrangements are particularly impressive, as are the overall dimensions of the space (the bar has no less than 25 seats!)

Is the United Club Newark near gate C123 perfect? Hardly. The club is often crowded at peak times. Some of the furniture is already showing signs of wear and tear. The lighting is a bit harsh. The semi-private booths are a bit too narrow. And, unlike select other locations, the United Club EWR doesn’t feature any completely enclosed workspaces or phone booths. But there are still plenty of private nooks, and the range of seating options will satisfy any needs. Besides, the line up of amenities is remarkable for a United Club.

United Club EWR amenities

The United Club at New York/Newark, NJ airport near gate C123 offers the most expansive set of amenities across all United Clubs systemwide, and reflects the scale of United’s investment (and competition) in the NYC market.

The culinary offerings celebrate New York City with a range of favorites such as bagels, donuts, and egg sandwiches at breakfast time, as well as a generous selection of hot entrees. While the menu isn’t exactly geared towards healthy eaters, there are a number of lighter options, including a salad bar. The buffet is constantly replenished, and the staff copes remarkably well with the crowds.

At the bar, patrons will find a complimentary selection of beers, house wines, and liquor. Premium drinks are also available for purchase. Also available are infused water, two Coca-Cola Freestyle machines offering a seemingly-unlimited range of soda options, and espresso machines.

Coffee lovers may want to skip the espresso machines, though: the United Club EWR gate C123 boasts a complimentary full-service coffee shop in partnership with Illy, which serves favorites such as lattes, cappuccinos, cold brews, and chai. The service is fast and efficient, New York-style, but efficiency comes at an environmental cost: United exclusively uses single-use plastic coffee pods and disposable cups. The availability of to-go cups is a reasonable choice for passengers on the go, but the plastic waste is otherwise entirely avoidable, and a regrettable oversight from an airline that pitches a focus on sustainability.

The United Club at Newark airport near gate C123 is the only club in the United States which features shower suites. (United Polaris Lounges have showers, but they’re exclusively reserved for business class passengers.) The spacious and well-appointed rooms are outfitted with a toilet, a sink, a bench, a stool, and a soothing rain shower. The suites are stocked with Sunday Riley amenities and Saks Fifth Avenue-branded towels—the same products that you’ll find at higher-end Polaris Lounges and in Polaris business class. The facilities are lovely and surprisingly spacious; the finicky shower temperature controls are perhaps the only design flaw.

The club also features elegant restrooms, including one gender-neutral stall. There is also a wellness room, which can serve as a new mother’s room, or as a space for prayer or meditation.

Unlike some lounges, the United Club Newark does not have a dedicated family room. The club used to feature a foosball table that was prominently advertised in United’s launch PR materials, but it was removed after a few months, primarily because the noise was bothersome.

United Club EWR bottom line

The spacious and stylish United Club at New York / Newark Liberty International airport near gate C123 is by far United’s best membership lounge in the US. The only contender systemwide is the United Club at London Heathrow.

With a myriad of seating options, an inspired bespoke residential décor, glorious views, a generous food and beverage selection, excellent shower suites, and luxurious touches such as a handcrafted espresso bar, the United Club is a destination in itself and the best airline club at Newark airport besides United’s own Polaris Lounge, which is the exclusive territory of long-haul business class passengers.

Note that United Club members have access to United Club lounges at their destination. With shower suites and a coffee shop, the United Club at Newark airport near gate C123 doubles as a fantastic arrivals lounge for passengers arriving early in the morning on United’s red-eye flights from the west coast. If you’re not sure whether you have access, use our Lounge Access Wizard and find out!